Little Boots, ‘Nocturnes’

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In December, Victoria Hesketh told the British magazine DIY that with her second LP as Little Boots, she had “realized what I want to do . . . rather than trying to please other people.” But the allure of crowd-pleasing is obvious on “Nocturnes,” which checks off dance tropes throughout its 10 not-quite-hits. DFA cofounder Tim Goldsworthy helms most of the production, and tows his credentials in nu-disco (“Beat Beat”) and indie dance-pop (“Crescendo”). On the house-influenced “Shake,” Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford serves a beat that teeters then finds itself in a bass hum. Hesketh stumbles as a wistful storyteller in “Strangers,” hamming, “I know you so well/ But we dance like strangers tonight/ No one could ever tell/ We used to hold our bodies tight.” It’s a relief when the penultimate track, “All for You,” stays on its groove and avoids a big chorus. Little Boots’ hooks rarely fall flat but can’t fully take off, either — they’re chained to the dance floor. (Out Tuesday)